Burster apparatus

ABSTRACT

Burster apparatus for separating a continuous strip or web of material into portions, or sheets or the like, the strip customarily having spaced-apart score lines or the like, along which separation occurs. The apparatus has a plurality of spacedapart pairs of rollers or cylinders having axially spaced peripheral grooves. The spaced relationship between pairs of rollers is adjustable. The rate of rotation of one pair of rollers is different from the rate of rotation of a pair of rollers which is adjacent thereto. One pair of rollers is movable to a position adjacent another pair of rollers for the bursting of a web consisting of short portions. Strip engagement means are movable into and out of web engaging position. The engagement means are of assistance in severance of certain types of webs. Resilient auxiliary contact means are carried by at least one roller member to assist in proper movement of a sheet or the like after separation thereof from a web occurs. A table extension member is adjustably supported relative to the second pair of rollers and has projecting fingers which are adapted to extend into the grooves of one of the rollers.

United States Patent 11 1 Parenti et a1,

, 1*Nov. 12, 11974 1 BURSTER APPARATUS Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to June 26, 1990, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Oct. 19, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 298,938

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 103,620, Jan. 4,

1971, Pat. N0. 3,741,451,

52 us. ca. 225/100, 225/4 [51] Int. Cl B261f 3/02 [58] Field of Search 225/100, 4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,246,228 6/1941 Winter 225/100 2,380,949 8/1945 Davidson 225/100 2,643,619 6/1953 Bonebrake 225/100 2,776,007 1/1957 Dietz et a1. 225/100 2,862,554 12/1958 Davidson et al.... 225/100 3,191,832 6/1965 Davies 225/100 3,261,603 7/1966 Peterson et a1. 225/100 X 3,741,451 6/1973 Parenti et al. 225/100 Primary Examiner--Frank T. Yost Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Jacox & Meckstroth 57 ABSTRACT Burster apparatus for separating a. continuous strip or web of material into portions, or sheets or the like, the strip customarily having spaced-apart score lines or the like, along which separation occurs. The apparatus has a plurality of spaced-apart pairs of rollers or cylinders having axially spaced peripheral grooves. The spaced relationship between pairs of rollers is adjustable. The rate of rotation of one pair of rollers is different from the. rate of rotation of a pair of rollers which is adjacent thereto.

One pair of rollers is movable to a position adjacent another pair of rollers for the bursting of a web consisting of short portions. Strip engagement means are movable into and out of web engaging position. The engagement means are of assistance in severance of certain types of webs. Resilient auxiliary contact means are carried by at least one roller member to assist in proper movement of a'sheet or the like after separation thereof from a web occurs. A table extension member is adjustably supported relative to the second pair of rollers and has projecting fingers which are adapted to extend into the grooves of one of the rollers.

4 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHW 12 I974 HE? S W 6 FIG-l8 [j 1 I I BURSTER APPARATUS RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Strip severance machines or bursters of various types have been constructed. However, so far as is known, one or more objectionable features have been found in each of the prior art machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide a strip severanc'e or burster apparatus which is capable of very rapid operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide such apparatus which is capable of maintaining a web and portions thereof in substantially straight line movement in the travel thereof through the apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide such apparatuswhich has pairs of rolls or roller members, therate of rotation of one pair of rollers being fixed with respect to the rate of rotation of an adjacent pair of rollers, one pair of rollers being relatively movable toward and away from an adjacent pair of rollers, while therelative rotative positions of the rollers is mainv tained.

It is another object of. this invention to provide such apparatus which includes web feed means, separate from the burster means.

Other objects and advantages reside in the construction of the invention, combination thereof, the method of manufacture, and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS v FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded type of view, with parts broken away and shown in section of burster apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing roller members and web feed mechanism of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view, similar to FIG. 2, showing the roller members in another position of operation.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view, similar to FIGS. 2 and 3, showing the roller members in another position of operation.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view, similar to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, showing the roller members in another position of operation.

I invention.

FIG. 7'is a plan view, drawn on a smaller scale than FIG. 1, showing a typical web which is operated upon by the apparatus of this inventionwhen the roller members thereof are positioned as shown in FIGS. 1 6 and 8.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the roller members in another rotative position of operation. A

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 9 9 of FIG. 8. I

FIG. 10 is asectional view taken substantially on line 10 -10 of FIG. 6. v

FIG. 11 is a plan view similar to FIG. 7 but showing another type of web structure which may be operated upon by apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 6 but showing pairs of roller members spaced closer together than in FIG. 6 for operation upon a type of web structure such as illustrated in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 12 showing the roller members in a different rotative position of operation. 5

FIG. 14 is an elevational view taken substnntially on line 14 14' of FIG. 1, but on a larger scale than FIG. 1, with elements shown in a different position of operation.

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view, drawn on a larger scale than FIG. 14, and showing a portion of the mechanism thereof. 7

FIG. 16 is a sectional view, taken substantially on line 16- 16 of FIG. I15.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view, taken substantially on line .17 17 of FIG. 15.

tion, similar to FIG. 6.

FIG. 23 is another enlarged section view of the modi fication, similar to FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The illustrated burster comprises a pair of sapced web feed devices 24 between which a continuous web 26 is disposed. The web 26 comprises'a series of forms or sheets separated by perforation or score lines 27. The web 26 may consist of a single thickness or ply or a plurality of thicknesses or plies. The web feed devices 24 may be of any suitable type, but preferably, have movable pin elements, .not shown, which are positionable within apertures 28 at the edges of the web 26 for movement thereof. The web feed devices 24 may be of the type disclosed in pending application Ser. No. 71,727, filed Sept. 14, 1970, now US. Pat. No.

3,688,959, entitled Pin Belt Mechanism for Movement of a Continuous Strip. The web feed devices 24 are sup ported upon a drive shaft 32 and 'upon a support shaft 341.

Spaced from the web. feed devices 24 are an upper gripper roll 38 and a lower gripper roll 40. The gripper rolls 38 and 40 are in parallel juxtaposition. The upper gripper roll 38 is secured to a shaft 42 for rotation therewith. The lower gripper roll 40 is secured to a shaft 44 for rotation therewith. Theshafts 42 and 44 are rotatably supported adjacent the ends thereof by a support member 50 which is shown at the left part of FIG. 1 and a supportmember 54 which is shown at the right part of FIG. 11.

A motor 56 of any suitable type is attached to the shaft 42, by any suitable means, for rotation thereof. A gear 58 is attached to the shaft 42 and is in meshed relationship with a gear which is attached to the shaft 44.

The shaft 42 extends through the support member 50 and has attached thereto a gear 62 which is in meshed relationship with a gear 64 which is attached to a shaft 66 which is rotatably carried by any suitable means such as the support member 50. Also attached to the shaft 66 for rotation therewith with is a bevel gear 68 which is in meshed relationship with a bevel gear 70, which is carried by a shaft 72. The shaft 72 may be polygonal in cross section or splined, or the like. The shaft 72 is rotatably supported by brackets 74 and 76, which are attached to the support member 50. The shaft 72 also carries a bevel gear which is movable axially upon the shaft 72. The bevel gear 80 is in meshed relationship with a bevel gear 82 which is attached to a shaft 84. The shaft 84 is rotatably supported by a plate 86, shown in FIGS. 1 and 19, which has rollers 88, shown in FIG. 19, which are supported upon a rail 90, which is attached to the support member 50. The shaft 84 also supports a gear 92, which is in meshed relationship with a gear'94 which is supported by a shaft 114 which is supported by the plate 86. The shaft 114 ex tends through the plate 86 and has attached thereto an upper burst roll 116. The gear 94 is in meshed relationship with a gear 98 which is attached to a shaft 100 which is supported by the plate 86. An idler gear 102 is in meshed relationship with the gear 98 and a gear 104, which is attached to a shaft 148 which extends through the plate 86. The shaft 114 is also rotatably supported by a plate which has wheels 122 attached thereto which are rotatably supported upon a rail 124. The plate 120 also has wheels 125 which'engage the lower surface of the rail 124, as illustrated in FIG. 15. The rail 124 is attached to the support member 54.

The shaft 114 has attached thereto a gear 126 which is in meshed relationship with a gear 128 which is attached to a shaft 130. The shaft 130 is rotatably supported by the plate 120 and the plate 86. The shaft 130 carries a burst roll 132 which is in juxtaposition with the burst roll 116 and parallel thereto.

Adjacent the burst roll 116 and supported by the plates 86 and 120 is a rod 134, shown in FIG. 6, 7, 12 and 13. A sleeve 136, which is also shown in FIG. 1, encompasses the rod 134 and is pivotal with respect thereto. Angularly shaped arm members are attached to the sleeve 136 and extend downwardly therefrom in a direction away from the burst roll 116 and the burst roll 132, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 8, 12 and 13. Each of the arms 140 has a lower end portion which is normally spaced a small distance above a substantially horizontal table 142, which extends to the right from the burst rolls 116 and 132, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, 8, 12 and 13. Slidably supported upon thetable 142 is an adjustable extension 144, shown in FIGS. 6, 12 and 13.

Attached to each of the arms 140 and extending toward the burst roll 116 is a deflector member 145.

A spring member or resilient member 143, shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 12 and 13, partially encompasses the rod 134', and is attached to the rod 134 and to the sleeve 136. The spring member 143 urges pivotal movement of the sleeve 136 counterclockwise, as viewed in these figures.

Attached to the sleeve 136 is an actuator finger 147 which extends therefrom and engages a roller 149 at the end of a switch finger 151 of a switch 153.

Disposed upon the table 142 are the upper portions of a plurality of elongate continuous belts 146, which encompass the shaft 148 for driving thereby and a shaft for rotative movement therewith. The shafts 148 and 150 are rotatively supported by flanges 152 which are attached to the table 142. One of the flanges 152 is supported by the plate 86, and the other flange 152 is supported by the plate 120 for movement therewith. as illustrated in FIG. 14. As stated above, the shaft 148 extends through the support member 50 and is driven by the gear 104.

The table 142 adjacent and above the shaft 150 carries a rack which has a pair of spaced-apart panels 162 extending normally therefrom. The panels 162 are adjustably carried by the rack 160 for closer or greater spacing between the panels 162.

The gripper roll 38 and the gripper roll 40 may comprise a plurality of spaced segments or each of these rolls may have peripheral slots 166 therein as shown in FIG. 1. The slots 166 in the roll 38 are in alignement with the slots 166 in the roll 40.

A plurality of tape housings 170 are supported by a bar 171, there being one tape housing 170 adjacent each pair of slots 166. Each tape housing 170 has a tape 172 extending therefrom. The bar 171 is attached to the support members 50 and 54. Each tape 172 has a coiled portion within its respective housing 170 and resilient means'within each housing 170 urges rotative movement of the coiled portion for drawing the tape 172 into the housing. The end of each tape 172 is attached to a block 176 which is attached to a rod 177 which is carried by the plates 86 and 120 and which is adjacent the burst roll 116 and substantially parallel thereto.

Above the bar 176 and parallelthereto is a bar 178 which supports a plurality of deflector fingers 180. The burst rolls 116 and 132 have spaced-apart aligned slots 182, shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, and thedeflector fingers 180 are disposed therewithin. The bar 178 is pivotally carried by the plates 86 and 120, and a resilient member 183 urges counterclockwise pivotal movement thereof, as shown in FIG. 6. The bar 176 has an engagement'lug 184.

Below the gripper roll 40 is a rod 186 which is supported by the support members 50 and 54. The rod 186 includes a spring, not shown, which urges rotative movement thereof in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6. Wrapped upon the rod 186 is a flexible curtainlike member 190 which extends upwardly from the rod 186 and over a stationary rod 192 and extends to a bar 194 to which the end of the flexible curtain member is attached. The bar 194 is supported by the plates 86 and 120 adjacent the burst roll 132.

Below the bar 171 is a bar 198, shown in FIGS. 6, 8, 12 and 13, which supports a plurality of support fingers 200, each of which is disposed within a pair of the aligned slots 166 in the rolls 38 and 40.

The shaft 42, to which the roll 38 is attached also supports a pair of brackets 204, there being one bracket 204 at each end of the roll 38. Eachv bracket 204 is rotatable with respect to the shaft 42.'A plunger 206 which is carried by the left bracket shown in FIG. 1 is movable into a hole 208, in the support member 50, shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 or is movable into another hole, not shown, but which retains the brackets 204 in the position shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8. The brackets 204 have attached thereto a rod 210 and a rod 212 which extend substantially parallel to the roll 38. The rods 210 and 212 have attached thereto a plurality of wedge blocks 214, each of which has a stem 216 which is laterally adjustably movable along the rods 210 and 212.

The gripper roll 38 is shown as having a reduced radius portion or surface portion 220, which is shown as being coplanar, and a reduced radius portion or surface portion 222, which is shown as being coplanar. The eoplanar portions or surfaces 220 and 222 are at opposite parts of the roll 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 6. 8, .12 and 13. These same figures show that the burst roll 116 has a plurality of contiguous reduced radius portions or surfaces, herein shown as being coplanar portions or surfaces 224.

The burst rolls 116 and 132, as stated above, are provided with annular slots 182, which have the deflector fingers 180 extending therewithin. The burst roll 116 also has grooves 229, each of which has a resilient or elastomeric element 230 therewithin. Preferably, the

- element 230 is an annular body of elastomeric material which tightly encompasses the roll 116, within each groove 229. Each element 230 is in alignment with a groove 234 of the burst roll 132, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The elastomeric element 230 may extend beyond the groove 229 only at the flat or coplanar portions 224, as shown in FIG. 21), or the elastomeric element may extend very slightly from the groove 229 throughout the periphery of the burst roll 116, as indicated in FIGS. 2 6, 8, 12 and 13.

Rotatably attached to the support member 54 in spaced relationship are sprocket members 240 and 242. Rotatably attached to the plate 100 is a sprocket 244 and two adjacent idler wheels 246, as shown in FIGS. 1, 14 and 15.

Rotatably attached to the support member 54 is a shaft 258 which has secured thereto for rotation therewith a sprocket 252. A hand wheel 253 is also attached to the shaft 251) for rotation thereof. Adjacent the shaft 250, the support member 54 rotatably supports an idler wheel 254. A continuous chain 255 or other flexible member encompasses the sprockets 240, 242, 244 and 252. The chain 255 engages the idler wheels 246 and 254. The sprocket 244 is attached to a shaft 260 which extends through the plate 120 and has attached thereto a gear 262, which is in meshed relationship with an elongate rack 264 which is supported by the support member 54 and extends therealong. The shaft 266 also extends to a rack 266 which is supported by the support member 56. A gear, not shown, is similar to the gear 262 and is attached to the shaft 260 adjacent the rack 266 and is in meshed relationship therewith.

Pedestals 2711 at opposite sides of the table 142 are attached to endless flexible chains 356, which rotate about sprockets 358, which are supported by shafts 362. Knobs 364 are attached to both ends of one of the shafts 362. A bar 272 is attached to the pedestals 270 and extends across the table 142. The bar 272 has a plurality of stems 274 attached thereto and adjustable positionable therealong. Each stem 274 rotatably carries a guide disc 276. Thus, rotation of either knob 364 moves the guide discs 276 along the table 142.

OPERATION Due to the fact that the burst rolls 116 and 132 are rotatably supported by the plates 86 and 120, and due to the fact that the plates 86 and are movable along their respective support members 50 and 54, the position of the burst rolls 116 and 132 may be adjusted with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40. Such adjustment is performed by rotative movement of the handwheel 253, which causes rotation of the shaft 250, the sprocket 252 and the chain 255. Rotative movement of the chain 255 causes rotative movement of the sprocket 244, which rotates the shaft 260 and thus rotates the gears 262 and causes travel of the gears 262 along the racks 264 and 266. Thus, the plates 86 and 120 are moved along the racks 264 and 266 so that the burst rolls 116 and 132 are positioned as desired with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40. FIGS. 1 and 14 show two different positions of the plate 120 with respect to the handwheel 253.

When the position of the burst rolls 116 and 132 is changed with respect to the position of the gripper rolls 38 and 40, the length of the tapes 172 and the curtain changes automatically. The desired position of the burst rolls 116 and 132 with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40 depends upon the length of the sheet or form which is to be burst or separated from the web 26. The perforation or score lines 27 extending across the web 26 separate the web 26 into a series of sheets or forms which are individually separated from the web 26 by apparatus of this invention, as the apparatus operates upon the web 26 and separates the sheets from the web in seriatim relationship.

8 FIG. 7 illustrates a typical continuous web 26 which is operated upon by apparatus of this invention when the apparatus is adjusted in the manner shown in FIGS. 6 and 8. The burst rolls 116 and 132 are adjusted with respect to the gripper rolls 38 and 40 so that the spacing between the wedge blocks 214 and the burst rolls 116 and 132 is approximately equal to the spacing between adjacent score lines 27 of the web 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 6 and 8.

The motor 56 is preferably adapted to cause opera tion of all the mechanism discussed above. However, other means for operation of all or aportion of the mechanism may also be satisfactory. The web feed devices 24, and any other feed mechanism, not shown, between the web feed devices 24 and the gripper rolls 38 and 48, move the web 26 from left to right as viewed in the figures of the drawings. The web in its travel be tween the gripper rolls 38 and 40 and the burst rolls 116 and 132 moves between the tapes 172 and the flexible curtain 190. The gripper rolls 38 and 411 and the burst rolls 116 and 132 are relatively rotatively positioned so that a coplanar surface 226 or 222 of the roll 38 faces the gripper roll 40 at the same instant when a coplanar surface 224 of the burst roll 116 faces the burst roll 132, as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the coplanar surface 222 facing the roll 40. Thus, the web feed devices 24 may move the web between the gripper rolls 38 and 40 and between the burst rolls 116 and 132 without disturbance by these rolls. If there is any tendency for lateral misalignment of the web 26 during burst operation, such misalignment is corrected by the web feed devices 24 as these devices 24 move the web 26 without pressure contact of the web 26 by the rolls 38, 411, 116 or 132.

The mechanism described is such that the burst rolls 116 and 132 rotatively move at a considerably higher rate than the gripper rolls 38 and 40. For example, the burst rolls 116 and 132 may be rotated at twice the rate that the gripper rolls 38 and 411 are rotated.

As the gripper rolls 38 and 40 and the burst rolls 116 and 132 continue to rotate, the coplanar surface 222 moves from facing relationship with the roll 40 and the web 26 is thus gripped by the gripper rolls 38 and 411. Rotative movement of the burst rolls 116 and 132 is such that the coplanar surfaces 224 of the roll 116 are then moved from facing relationship with the roll 132. Thus, at that instant the burst rolls 116 and 132 grip the web 26, as well as the gripper rolls 38 and 411, as illustrated in FIG. 3. I

Then, due to the fact that the burst rolls 116 and 132 are rotating at a rate greater than the rate of rotation of the gripper rolls 38 and 411, the portion of the web 26 which is between the burst rolls 116 and 132 and the gripper rolls 38 and 411 is pulled in tension. As this tension action occurs, the portion of the web 26 between the burst rolls 116 and 132, and the gripper rolls 38 and 411 is pulled taut against the wedge blocks 214. When sufficient tension force is exerted upon the portion of the web which is between the gripper rolls 38 and 411 and the burst rolls 116 and 132, the tension causes the web 26 to sever, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and a sheet or form 26a is removed from the web 26. Preferably, bursting action occurs when a perforation line 27 is adjacent the wedge blocks 214. The sheet 26a is moved by the burst rolls 116 and 132 in a direction away from the remainder of the web 26. i

In some situations, before the burst rolls 116 and 132 have moved the sheet 26a from a position therebetween, the coplanar portions 224 of the roll 1116 again move into facing relationship with the roll 132 as illustrated in FIG. 5. In such rotative position of the burst rolls 116 and 132 the burst rolls 116 and 132 would not cause any forward movement of the sheet 26a. Therefore, the roll 116 is provided with the elastomeric ele ments 2311, one of which is shown in FIGS. 9 and 211. Theelastomeric element 2311 very lightly engages the sheet 26a and causes the sheet 26a to positively move forwardly, as illustrated in F1GS. 5 and 9 and 211. The sheets 26a thus are moved to the table 142 and are moved'therealong by the belts 146 to an upwardly extending stack S at the right hand portion of the apparatus, as viewed in FIG. 1. The guide plates 2'76 cooperate with the belts 146 in the movement of the sheets 26a to thestack S thereof.

Afterseverance occurs,-the gripper rolls 3% and 40 and the web feed devices 24 continue to move the web 26 toward the burst rolls 116 and 132, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 shows another typical continuous web 326 which may be operated upon by the apparatus of this invention. The continuous web 326 may be a card stock or paper stock web and may comprise a series of tabulator cards, or the like, 326a which are attached in series relationship by means of a stub 330 which has score lines or perforation lines 332.

For operation upon a web such as the web 326 of FIG. 11, the burst rolls 116 and 132 are moved close to the gripper rolls 38 and 40, as shown in FIG. 12. Before this occurs, the wedge blocks 214 are moved out of the normal position shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, which is between the gripper rolls 38 and 41) and the burst rolls 116 and 132, to a position above the gripper roll 38, as illustrated in FIG. 12. In such movement of the wedge blocks 214, the plunger 206 is withdrawn from the hole in the support member 50 and the brackets 204 are then pivotally moved about the shaft 42 to a position in which the plunger 206 is movable into the hole 208 in the support member 511.

Thus, the wedge blocks 214 are positioned as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. In such position the lug 184 engages the support member 51) and the bar 178 is pivotally moved in a clockwise direction. Thus. the deflector fingers are moved downwardly toward the roll 132.

The extension 144 is manually moved in a direction away from the roll 132. Thus, the stubs 330 which are separated during the burst operation fall downwardly between the extension 144 and the burst roll 132, as illustrated in FIG. 13. The larger sheets or cards 326 move to the table 142, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

If, for some reason, the sheets 26a or the cards or sheets 3260 should not move properly along the table 142 and a build-up thereof should occur, the arms 1411 are lifted by such sheets or cards and the sleeve 136 is pivotally moved upon the rod 134. The spring or resilient member 143 assists in such pivotal movement. Therefore, the arms 141) are very sensitive to such build-up. When the sleeve 136 is pivotally moved, the actuator 147 is moved. Thus, the switch 153 is operated. By this means, control mechanisms may cause deenergization of the motor 56 and operation of the apparatus ceases.

Referring to FIGS. 21-23, a modified burster apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention includes most of the same components or structure as described above. Accordingly, the components are identified with the same reference numbers as used above. In addition, an elongated guide strip or member 336 is formed of sheet metal and extends across the upper surface of the table extension member 144 to which it is secured by a series of longitudinally spaced spot welds. The guide member 336 slopes upwardly from the table extension member 144 towards the upper portion of the lower burst roll 132 and includes the series of longitudinally spaced finger portions 338 each formed by folding a projecting tab of the sheet metal to a generally V-shaped configuration.

When the table extension member 144 is moved to its extended position (FIG. 22) adjacent the outer surface of the lower burst roll 132, the finger portions 338 project upwardly into the corresponding axially spaced circumferential slots or grooves 182 formed within the burst roll 132. Should a form tend to remain with the surface of the roll 1311 in its downward movement, the finger portions 333 strip the form from the roll so that the form moves to the table extension, instead of moving downwardly with downward movement of the surface of the roll 1311. This interfitting relation of the finger portions 338 of guide member 336 and the grooves 182 of the lower burst roll 132 also assures that the separated forms 26a which are directed onto the table 142, remain on the table 142 and are properly accumulated in overlapping relation by the endless belts 146 shown in FIG. 1. Should the sheets 26a or the cards 326a build-up on the table 142, as mentioned above, the finger portions 338 prevent the trailing edges of the sheets or cards from being fed downwardly, by the rotation of the lower burst roll 132, between the table extension member 144 and the lower burst roll 132.

When the burst rolls 116 and 132 are moved to a position adjacent the gripper rolls 38 and 44) for separating the sheets or cards 326a from a web 326, as mentioned above, the deflector fingers 180 are moved downwardly adjacent the lower burst roll 132, as shown in FIG. 23. The table extension member 144 and the guide strip 336 are moved to their retracted positions (FIG. 23) so that the finger portions 338 are spaced from the lower burst roll 132. The stubs 330 are deflected downwardly by the fingers 180 into the scrap container.

Although the preferred embodiments of the device have been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the forms, details, proportions and arrangements of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operations, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

The invention having thus been described, the following is claimed:

1. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, one of the second set of roll members being a lower roll member and having axially spaced peripheral grooves therein,,a table member positioned adjacent the lower roll member of the second set of roll members and having an upper surface adapted to receive and support the separated forms which are fed from said second set of roll members, and projection means supported by said table and projecting into at least one of said grooves within said one roll member of said second set of roll members to guide forms from the second set of roll members to the upper surface of the table, the projection means comprising a fingerfor each of said grooves, and including means for moving said fingers between an extended position projecting into the corresponding said grooves and a retracted position spaced from said second set of roll members.

2. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of upper and lower roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of upper and lower roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, means defining a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves in at least said lower roll member of said second set, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of ad jacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members. table means disposed adjacent said second set of roll members and adapted to receive and support the separated forms being fed from said second set of roll members, said table means including a table extension member movable between an extended position adjacent said lower roll member of said second set and a retracted position spaced from said lower roll member, and finger means mounted on said table extension member and projecting into said grooves within said lower roll member of said second set of roll members when said table extension member is moved to said extended position to strip forms from the lower roll member of said second set of roll members, the finger means being spaced from the lower roll member of said second set of roll members when said table extension member is in its retracted position spaced from the lower roll member topermit movement of severed portions of forms between the lower roll member and the table extension member.

3. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus com prising a first set of adjacent roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of adjacent roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, at least one of said roll members of said second set' of roll mem bers having a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, means supporting said second set of roll members for linear movement as a unit between a first position adjacent said first set of roll members and a second position spaced from said first set of roll members, means for adjustably moving said second set of roll members between said first and second positions, strip engaging means positioned between said first and second sets of roll members adjacent said first set of roll members to assist the separation of the forms, a plurality of laterally spaced deflector members supported for movement adjacent said second set of roll members and extending into said grooves, means sup porting said strip engaging means for movement to a retracted position to provide for moving said second set of roll members to said first position, and means for moving said deflector members within said grooves in response to moving said second set of roll members to said first position, the deflector members thus being automatically movable from a deflecting position to a re tracted position by movement of said second set of roll,

for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perfotypes, at least one of said second set of roll members including means defining a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves, and said table extension member including a corresponding plurality of fingers adapted to project into said grooves when said table extension member is moved to said position adjacent said one roll member to serve as stripping means.

* l l l 

1. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, one of the second set of roll members being a lower roll member and having axially spaced peripheral grooves therein, a table member positioned adjacent the lower roll member of the second set of roll members and having an upper surface adapted to receive and support the separated forms which are fed from said second set of roll members, and projection means supported by said table and projecting into at least one of said grooves within said one roll member of said second set of roll members to guide forms from the second set of roll members to the upper surface of the table, the projection means comprising a finger for each of said grooves, and including means for moving said fingers between an extended position projecting into the corresponding said grooves and a retracted position spaced from said second set of roll members.
 2. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of upper and lower roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of upper and lower roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, means defining a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves in at least said lower roll member of said second set, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, table means disposed adjacent said second set of roll members and adapted to receive and support the separated forms being fed from said second set of roll members, said table means including a table extension member movable between an extended position adjacent said lower roll member of said second set and a retracted position spaced from said lower roll member, and finger means mounted on said table extension member and projecting into said grooves within said lower roll member of said second set of roll members when said table extension member is moved to said extended position to strip forms from the lower roll member of said second set of roll members, the finger means being spaced from the lower roll member of said second set of roll members when said table extension member is in its retracted position spaced from the lower roll member to permit movement of severed portions of forms between the lower roll member and the table extension member.
 3. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of adjacent roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of adjacent roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, at least one of said roll members of said second set of roll members having a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, means supporting said second set of roll members for linear movement as a unit between a first position adjacent said first set of roll members and a second position spaced from said first set of roll members, means for adjustably moving said second set of roll members between said first and second positions, strip engaging means positioned between said first and second sets of roll members adjacent said first set of roll members to assist the separation of the forms, a plurality of laterally spaced deflector members supported for movement adjacent said second set of roll members and extending into said grooves, means supporting said strip engaging means for movement to a retracted position to provide for moving said second set of roll members to said first position, and means for moving said deflector members within said grooves in response to moving said second set of roll members to said first position, the deflector members thus being automatically movable from a deflecting position to a retracted position by movement of said second set of roll members.
 4. Burster apparatus for successively separating a continuous strip of business forms along longitudinally spaced lines of cross perforations, said apparatus comprising a first set of adjacent roll members adapted to receive the strip therebetween, a second set of adjacent roll members spaced from said first set of roll members and adapted to receive the strip therebetween, means for driving said first and second sets of roll members for feeding the strip therebetween, said second set of roll members having a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of said first set of roll members to effect separation of adjacent forms at each line of cross perforations located between said sets of roll members, a table member adjacent said second set of roll members and adapted to support the separated forms being fed from said second set of roll members, a table extension member slidably mounted on said table member, and said table extension member being movable between a position adjacent one of said roll members of said second set of roll members and a position spaced from said one roll member for accommodating forms of different types, at least one of said second set of roll members includIng means defining a plurality of axially spaced peripheral grooves, and said table extension member including a corresponding plurality of fingers adapted to project into said grooves when said table extension member is moved to said position adjacent said one roll member to serve as stripping means. 